Rotary engine.



No. 646,4!9. Patented Apr. 3, I900.

Y. DURAN.

RY ENGINE.

(Applicafzion filed. May 1, 1899.)

'(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shea; I.

'No. 646,4l9. v Patented Apr. 3, I900.

I J. P. DURAN;

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed May 1, 1899.) .(No Model.) 7 5 she,ets-Sheet 2.

No. 646,4I9. Patented Apr. 3, I900.

- J. P. DURAN. ROTARY Enema.

(Application filed May 1, 1899.) (No Model.)

5. Shets-Sheef 3.

No. 646,419. Patented A r. 3, I900. .1. P. 0.0mm.

ROTARY ENGINE.

' (Application filed May 1, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

mg man's-Finns co. PWOTO-LITMD. wasnmumu, n c

No. 646,419. Pajtented Apr. 3,1900.

.1. P. non/m.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed May 1, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

ATENT prion.

JOHN P. DORAN, OF LARK, W'ISCONSIN.

ROTARY ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,419, dated April 3,1900.

Application filed May 1, 1899. $erial No. 715,152. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. DORAN, of Lark, in the county of Brown andState of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in RotaryEngines, of which the following is a description, reference be-.

engine whereby the greatest percentage of power is obtainable from aminimum amount of steam.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view theinvention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, ashereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewthrough the pistonchamber and piston of an engine of my improvedconstruction. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is adetail view of the piston. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the segmentalrack. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form of gate. Fig. 6 is avertical sectional view through the piston-chamber and piston of amodified form of construction of a compound engine. Fig. 7 isa sectionalview of a modified form of the mechanism for actuating the steam-gatesof Fig. 6. Fig: 8 is a similar view to Fig. 6 of another form of theengine. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the steam-gates employed inthe Fig. 8 construction. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a detail of Fig. 9.Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional View through another modified form ofthe engine. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the mechanism for operating thesteam-gates of both the Figs. 8 and llconstructions. Fig. 13 is a detailview of governor mechanism of modified form of construction. Fig. 14 isa crosssection through the tube shown in Fig. 13, with parts in sectionand parts broken away.

Throughout the several sheets of .drawin gs the numeral 15 indicates thesupportingframework, and 16 a casing which forms an interiorpiston-chamber 17. This casing has radiating therefromv a series ofspokes 18,

which extend to and connect with an outer,

rim or periphery 1 9.

part of the shaft or axis.

In the form of construction illustrated on Sheets 1 and 2 of thedrawings the piston is indicated by the numeral 20, said piston having acam formation 21 extending from one portion thereof and bearing againstthe Wall of the chamber 17. The bearing edge of this cam is intersectedby a recess 22, in which is fitted a packing-strip 23, said strip beingpressed outwardly by means of a coiled spring 24. The piston is mountedfast on a non-rotatable shaft or axis 25. Said piston may be eitherseparate from the shaft or axis and secured rigidly thereto, or it maybe an integral The said shaft or axis is hollow or tubular to form anexhauststeam passage 26, with which passage an eX- haust-steam pipe 27connects. Within the passage 26 is arranged a valve 28, formed with anintersecting live-steam passage 29 and with another exhaust-steampassage 30. The passage 29 communicates at one end with agradually-divergent passage 31 in the piston and extending acrossthrough the edge of said piston in order to communicate with the chamber17 and at. its opposite end with another passage 32 in the piston, whichpassage 32 has a lateral branch 33 leading out through one side of thepiston. The exhaust-steam passage 30 of the valve communicates withanother gradually-divergent passage 34 in the piston and extendingacross in an opposite direction to the passage 31 and through the edgeof the piston in order to communicate with the chamber 17. The valve-rod35 of the valve extends outwardly through the closed end of thestationary shaft or axis 25 and has so cured thereto a lever 36, saidlever carrying an ordinary form of dogor pawl 37, which is adapted toengage any of the series of teeth in a toothed segment 38. Bydisengaging the dog from the segment and turning the lever it is obviousthat the position of the valvecan be regulated. The valve is surroundedfor a short distance by a coiled spring 39, said spring having its innerend connected to a set collar 40 and its outer end bearing against theinner side of the closed end of the shaft or axis 25. By means of thisspring the valve is held to its proper longitudinal position in thepassage 26. The shaft or axis 25 is also provided with anotherlongitudinal passage or channel 41 for the live steam, a steam its outerend with a hand-wheel.

inlet pipe 42 communicating with the outer end of this passage. Theinner end of the passage 41 communicates with an annular passage 43.This annular passage communicates at one point with a valve-chamber 44,and this valve-chamber in turn is in communication with the lateralpassage 33 of the piston. \Vithin this valve-chamber is a valve 45, saidvalve preferably consisting of an annulus or ring, with an arm 46extending across its upper end. To this arm is connected a valve-rod 47,the upper end of said rod being formed or provided with a beveledenlarge ment or head 48. Secured at one end to the inner side of the rim19 is a flat spring 49. Passing through an intermediate point of thisspring is a screw 50, said screw provided upon The inner end of thescrew is in line to engagea lug 51, projecting from one of the arms'18.At its free end the spring carries a governor-weight 52.

member of an angular bracket 55, said bracket being secured to one sideof the casing 16. i

The lower end of the arm 58 has journaled thereinan antifriction-roller56. The arm 53 is in line with the valve-rod 47, so that on the downmovement of the arm the antifrictionroller is brought into engagementwith the upper end of the valve-rod, whereby said valverod and the valvecarried thereby are forced downwardly. A toothed dog 57 depends from thehorizontal member of the bracket 55 and any of the teeth of this dog areadapted to engage with the upper enlargement or head 48 of the valve-rod47, being held in engagement therewith by means of a spring 58pressingagainst the inner or untoothed edge of the dog.

It will be understood that, if desired, rod 47 and rod or arm 53 maybeone and the trip mechanism dispensed with.

Fitting steam-tight within chambers or recesses 59 59 indiametrically-opposite portions of the casing 16 are steam-gates 60 60.These gates extend into the piston-chamber 17, and their inner edges areadapted to bear against the piston. Projecting laterally from oppositesides of each gate, at the inner edge thereof, are beveled lugs 61 61.These lugs are provided so that when the casing has revolvedsufliciently far to cause one of the gates to ride on the cam portion 21the beveled surface of the lug will conform to the inclined surface ofthe cam, and thereby prevent wear, which would otherwise occur if theselugs were not provided by reason of the angle of the inner edge of thegate bearing on the inclined surface of the cam. In Fig.

5 one of these steam-gates is illustrated with only one of thelaterally-projecting beveled lugs 61, and in lieu of the other lug aroller 62 is provided, which roller answers the same purpose as a lug.

If desired, of course two Connected to and depending from one end ofthis weight is an arm 53, said arm pass- 1 ing through a tubular guide54, said guide be- 1 ing formed at the outer end of the horizontalrollers similar to 62 could be employed instead of two lugs 61. To theouter edge of each gate is connected a rod 63. Each rod extendsoutwardly through a stuffing-box, and the outer extremity of each rod isformed with a yoke-like portion 64, forming a bearing for a crank-shaft65. To each crankshaft is pivotally connected the end of a flat spring66. The other end of each of these springs is preferably secured to therim 19 by two screws 67 67, which pass through the spring and enter therim. Another screw 68 passes through the spring, but does not enter therim. By turning these several screws the tension of the spring may beregulated.

It will be noticed that the sides of the cam projection 21 are providedwith a recess 69 69. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in full linein Fig. 3.) When the casing is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the airor any steam which may be in the space between the gate 60 and thecontacting portion of the cam is free to pass from said space throughtherecess 69 into the chamber 17 on the other side of the gate, and whenthe gate 60 moves to the other side of the cam 21 the steam is free toflow through the other passage 69 and act against cam 21 of the fixedpiston, so that the action of the steam against gate 60 will continue torotate the engine.

If desired, one side of the rotatable casing 16 may be provided withaprojecting shaft 70, the power from which may be employed for running adynamo orother motor.

I prefer to surround the stationary shaft or axis 25 with suitablepackings to take up the wear, said packings consisting of rings 71 71,located on opposite sides of the piston and having beveled outer rims orperipheries which mesh with corresponding beveled surfaces in thepiston. A packing 72 bears against the ring 71, and a collar 73 bearsagainst the packing 72, said collar being secured to the casing. Aseries of springs 74 bear against the ring 71.

It will be understood that the casing 16 and the attached rim 19 areintended to be revolved, the rim forming a pulley around which a bandmay be passed for transmitting the power to any suitable machinery to beoperated.

In the operation of the form of engine shown on Sheets 1 and 2 if theparts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the live steam passes throughthe inlet-pipe 42, thence into the passage 41 into valve-chamber 44,through the upper open end of the valve 45, (said valve being normallyheld against movement by the engagement of the dog 37 with the valverodthereof,) thence into lateral passage 33, thence into passage 32 in thepiston, thence into passage 29 in the valve 28, and thence in to passage31 of the .piston and out ofsaid passage into the piston-chamber 17 inthe space of said chamber between the gate 60 and the contacting portionof the cam 21. This steam of the arm 53.

will now act on the gate 60 and cause the casing 16, with attachedparts, to be rotated toward the right of Fig. 1. As the casing continuesto thus rotate, the gate 60 is brought nearer and' nearer to the passage34. With this rotation also the gate 60 is carried around, being firstacted upon by the cam 21 and forced outwardly by said cam into thechamber 59. The moment it clears the highest point of the cam the spring66 forces it inwardly again, said spring thereby always holding theinner edge of the gate in engagement with the edge of the piston. \Vhenthe gate 60 passes the passage 31, the live-steam space is then betweensaid gate and the cam projection 21. Vhen the casing is rotatedsufficiently far to bring the gate 60 into register with the passage 34,the steam between.

the two gates is then free to exhaust through said passage '34 into thepassage 30 of the valve 28, thence into the passage 26 of the shaft 25,and finally out through the exhaustpipe 27.

The operations just described are of course repeated as the casing iscontinuously rotated. If it is desired to reverse the engine, all thatis necessary to be done is to turn the valve 28 so that the passage 29thereof will connect the two passages 32 and 34 of the piston, and thepassage 30 of said valve made to register with the passage 31 of thepiston. The live steam will then take the same course, as beforedescribed, to the passage 32, thence into passage 29, and thence throughpassage 3-1 into the piston-chamber17. The exhauststeam, on the otherhand, will pass from the piston-chamber through passage 31, thence intopassage 30 of the valve 28, and thence into passage 26 and out throughthe exhaustpipe 27.

In the rotation of the casing if the speed becomes too great the weight52 will fiy out by centrifugal force and cause an uplifting This willcause the roller 56 of said arm to act on an inclined surface on the dog57 and throw said dog inwardly, so as to release its teeth fromengagement with-the upper end of the valve-rod 4:7. The moment thisrelease is effected the pressure of the steam against the lower end ofthe valve-rod 47 will cause an uplifting of the valve 45 and aconsequent closing of the passage 33 toa sufficient extent either toentirely shut off the flow of the steam into said passage 33 or to limitthe amount of steam passing therein to such an extent as to reduce thespeed of rotation of the engine to the required amount. When the properreduction of speed is secured, the weight 52 will again move inwardlyand cause a descent of the arm 53, the roller 56 of said arm acting onthe upper end of the valve-rod 47, so as to cause a descent of said rodand its valve the required distance to fully open the passage 33. Assoon as the arm 53 has thus descended a sufficient distance to bring theroller 56 thereof out of contact with the beveled surface 75 the spring58 will then force the dog 57 outwardly, so as to cause a tooth of saiddog to engage the valve-rod 47, and thereby hold the valve down untilthe speed of the engine again becomes too fast.

In the form of engine shown in Fig. 6 the piston is indicated by thenumeral 76 and the fixed shaft or axis by the numeral 77. This shaft oraxis has two passages-namely, an inlet-passage 78, which connects with asuitable inlet-pipe, (not shown,) and an exhaustpassage 79, whichconnects with an exhaustpipe. (Not shown.) The piston is provided with apassage 80, registering at its inner end with the inlet-passage 78 andhaving its outer end opening into the piston-chamber 17, and said pistonis also provided with another passage 81, registering at its inner endwith the exhaust-passage 79 and having its outer end opening into thepiston-chamber 17. The piston is also provided with a cam projection 76,similar to the cam projection 21 of the At a diametri- Fig. 1 form ofconstruction. cally-opposite point said piston is also provided withanother cam projection 82,. said cam projection 82 being out of contactwith the casing, so as to leave a passage 831 In this form of devicethere are four steam-gates, designated, respectively, by the numerals84, 84;, S4 and 84 which work in the chambers 85 of the casing. To eachof these gates is connected a rod 86, each rod provided on its outer endwith a piston 87, which works in a cylinder 88 therefor. Each of thesecylinders has a steam-inlet port 89, which is connected with anysuitable means of steam-supply. For instance, each port 89 could beconnected with the steam-inlet passage 78 of shaft or axis 77. From thelower ends of the cylinders 88 diagonal ducts 90 extend and open in thechamber 91. It will be understood that this form is a compound engine.In the operation of this form of device in the position of the partsshown in Fig. 6 the live steam passes along the passage 78, thence intopassage 80, and thence into the space of the piston-chamber 17 betweenthe cam projection 76 and the gate 84. The steam thus acting againstthis gate will cause a rotation of the casing, and as the casingcontinues to rotate the gates are successively brought in advance of thepassage 80, so as to be acted upon by the steam between the gateand thecam projection.

By the provision of the cam 82 and the passage 83 when a gate reaches acertain point in its travel and starts up the cam 82 the steam inadvance thereof is free to pass through the passage 83 and press againstthe next succeeding gate, (the gate 84 in the illustration.) The gate 84however, being brought into contact with the cam 82, a portion of thegate is moved outwardly, and consequently the said steam in advance ofsaid gate is pressing against a very much less area of gate 84 than ofgate 84- and said 82. The excess pressure against gate 84 there forewill assist in rotating the engine, and thereby provide a compoundaction. As the gates with the continued rotation of the easingsuccessively register with the passage 81, he steam back of said gatesis free to exaust into the passage 81, thence into passage 79 of thefixed axis 77, and finally out through the discharge-pipe.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modified. form of mechanism for holding the inneredge of each steam-gate in contact with the edge of the piston. In thisform a cylinder is employed (designated by the numeral 88') which issomewhat larger in diameter than the cylinder 88. This cylinder 88' hasan open outer end, and the piston 87 therein is adapted to be acted uponby air-pressure.

In the Fig. 8 form of construction the numeral 89 indicates the piston,and 90 the fixed shaft or axis thereof. The shaft or axis is constructedsimilar to the shaft 77 of Fig. 6- that is to say, it is provided withan inlet-passage (indicated by the numeral 91) which is connected with asteam-supply pipe, (not shown,) and said shaft or axis is also providedwith an exhaust-passage (indicated by the numeral 92) connected with anexhaustpipe. (Not shown.) The piston is also provided with aninlet-passage 93, which isxin communication at one end with theinlet-passage 91, and said piston is also provided with anexhaust-passage 94, which is in communication at one end with theexhaust-passage 92 of the shaft or axis and at its other end with thepiston-chamber. The cam projection 89 of the piston 89 is somewhatbroader at its point of contact than the cam projections of the otherforms of piston and is advisably provided with two of the spring-actuated packing-strips. The outer end of the passage 93 of the pistoncommunicates with a small duct 95, which duct leads to thepiston-chamber 17. Communication between the passage 93 and the duct 95is controlled by means of a tubular valve 96, said valve having a port97, which may be brought into register with the duct 95. Journaled insuitable hearings in the passage 93 is a rockshaft 98. Mounted fast onthis rock-shaft is an arm 99, which carries at its end anantifriction-roller 100. This roller is adapted to ride on a cam 101,which cam is rigid with or an integral part of the casing 16. Alsomounted fast on the shaft 98 is a collar 102, said collar provided witha projecting lug 103. Mounted loosely on the rock-shaft and dependingtherefrom in an arm 104:. The lower end of this arm 104: is connected toan arm 105, projecting from the valve 96, by means of a short link 1063.Pivoted to arm 104 is a lever 107. The short arm of this lever isadapted normally to engage with the shoulder 103 of the rigid collar102. The long arm of this lever has pivotally secured thereto a link.108. The inner end of this link extends into the passage 91 and isconnected to one end of a crank 109, the other end of said crank beingconnected to a rod 110, which extends longitudinally through the passage91 and out through the end of the fixed shaft or axis 90. The outerextremity of the rod is connected to any suitable mechanism foroperating it-such, for instance, as the mechanism shown in myapplication for United States Letters Patent, filed March 10, 1898,Serial No. 673,289, and allowed October 18, 1898. It Will be understoodthat the upper end of the arm 101 forms a projecting lug 111, and thislug is adapted to engage a second shoulder 112 on the collar 102. Thisform of the invention also com'prehends a modified construction ofsteam-gates; Two of such gates are shown arranged atdiametrically-opposite points of the casing. These gates instead ofmoving in and out, as in the preceding forms of construction, areadapted, when they are brought into contact with the cam 89 to be swungoutwardly into recesses therefor in the casing. One of these gates isindicated by the numeral 113, and the other gate by the numeral 113.Each gate has one edge beveled and provided with a dovetail recess 114:.A separate end strip 115,provided with a registering beveled edge, isfitted to this beveled edge of the gate, said strip being provided witha dovetail tongue 11G, fitting the dovetailed recess 114. The numerals117 117 indicate rock-shafts, which are fitted in circular recesses 118118 therefor in the casing, the ends of said rock-shafts being journaledin suitable hearings in the end walls of the recesses 118. Eachrockshaft is provided with a suitable recess 119, in which the gate andits end strip are fitted. A flat spring 120 is arranged in this recessbetween the outer edge of the gate and the wall of said recess, and theends of this spring bear on the outer edge of the gate in order to holdthe inner edge of said gate inwardly in contact with the edge of thepiston. Another spring 121 is also similarly disposed, and its free endbears on the outer edge of the strip 115. By the provision of the stripand the sliding connection between the same and the gate wear on theside edges of the gate is compensated for, inasmuch as, as wear occurs,it is taken up by reason of the gate being forced inwardly and the Widththereof thereby increased slightly by reason of the matching beveledsurfaces. Each gate is held in its recess 119 by means of pins 122passing through elongated slots in the gate and entering the rock-shaft.By passing these pins through slightly-elongated slots the inward playof the gate is not interfered with. To one of the journals or ends ofeach shaft 117 is connected a crank-arm 123. The connection for thiscrank-arm is This flat ICC spring is disposed and secured at its innerend in a suitable recess 126. In the operation of this form of thedevice, the parts heingin the position shown in Fig. 8, steam is entirely cut 0E from the piston-chamber. \Vhen the casing is rotated asufficient distance to bring the roller 100 on the raised portion of thecam 101, the collar 102 is turned so as to cause shoulder 103 to act onthe short end of the lever 107, whereby the valve is opened and thesteam is free to pass from the passage 91 into passage 93, thence enterthe open.end of valve 96, and thence pass through the port 97 of saidvalve into duct and through said duct into the space of thepiston-chamber between the cam projection 89 and the gate 113. The steamacting against the gate 113 will cause the casing to revolve, and as thecam 101 is rigid to the casing said cam of course is necessarilyrevolved therewith. After the cam is thus revolved a certain distancethe roller of the arm 99 will ride on the reduced portion of said cam,and this will cause a turning of the arm 99, and a consequent turning ofthe rock-shaft 98 and the collar 102, fixed to said shaft. The turningof this collar will cause the shoulder 112 thereof to act on the lug111. This will cause a turning of the arm 104 on the rock-shaft 98, andthis turning of the arm 104 through the link 106 and the valve-arm willcause a turning of the valve 96 to such an extent as to throw the port97 of the valve out of register with the duct 95, and consequently shutoff further flow of steam into the pistonchamber 17, as shown in Fig. 8.The casing, therefore, will now be rotated merely by the expansive powerof the steam acting against the steam-gate, and this rotation of thecasing by the expansive power of the steam alone will continue until theraised portion of the cam 101 is again brought into contact with theroller 100.

It will be understood that when the casing is rotated sufficiently farto bring one of thegates into engagement with the cam 89 said cam willturn the gate outwardly into a recess 127, provided for itsaccommodation in the casing 16. The moment the gate passes the cam thespring 125', through the described connections, Will act on the journalof the rock-sha'ft 117 and cause the return of the gate to its normalposition. It will be further understood that the steam in the space ofthe piston-chamber in advance of one of the gatesas, for instance, thegate 113, Fig. 8- is free to exhaust through the passage 94 into passage92 and finally out through the exhaust-pipe.

Whenever the speed of the engine becomes too great and the rod isconsequently operated in one direction by the mechanism controlling thesame, the crank 109 will act on the link 108 and cause a turning ofthele-- ver 107 on its pivot, so as to free the short arm of said leverfrom contact with the shoulder 103 of the collar 102, and consequentlybefore described, is loose on the shaft, and I consequently the valve 96is not affected, but

remains closed and continues to shut off thesupply of steam to thepiston-chamber, and this action is continued until the proper speed isagain reached, at which time the rod 110 is rotated in a direction tocause-rod 108 to turn lever 107 and bring the end of the short arm ofsaid lever in contact with the shoulder 103, whereby said lever 107 isturned and the valve 96 again turned to an open position.

In Fig. 11 of the drawings is illustrated another form of compoundengine, in which, in one side of the casing, the working parts of theFig. 8 form of construction are duplicated and designated by the samereference-numerals, while on the other side another form of constructionis provided. The piston in this Fig. 11 form of construction isindicated by the numeral 128, and the cam projection thereof by thenumeral 128. The stationary shaft or axis for the piston is designatedby the numeral 129. This shaft oraxis is provided with an inletsteam-passage 130, which is in communication with an inlet-pipe, (notshown,) and is also provided with an exhaustpassage 131, which is incomm unication with anexhaust-pipe. (Notshown) Thepassage 130communicates with a passage 132 in the piston, similar to the passage 93of the Fig. 8 form, and the outer end of this passage 132 communicateswith a duct leading to the piston-chamber 17, said duct being controlledby the valve 96, provided with the port 97, the same as in the Fig. 8form of construction. This valve is also provided with the projectingarm 105, which is connected to arm 104: by means of the link 106, saidarm 104: being loosely mounted on rock-shaft 98 and said arm alsoprovided at its upper end with the projecting lug 111. Mounted fast onthe rock-shaft 98 is the collar 102, which is provided with theprojecting shoulders 103 and 112. Also mounted fast on the rock-shaft 98is the arm 99, which carries the antifriction-roller 100, which rollerrides on the cam 101, which cam is rigid or integral with the casing 16.The arm 10% has also pivoted thereto the lever 107, and to the long armof this lever is connected the link 108, the inner end of said linkbeing jointed to the crankarm 109, extending from the end of the rod110, which rod 110 passes longitudinally through the inlet-passage 130of the shaft 129 and through the outer end of said shaft to be connectedto suitable mechanism for operating the same, as in the Fig. 8 form ofconstruction. Formed in one side of the piston is a chamber 133, a port13% leading from the piston chamber 17 into said chamber 133.

IIO

Another port 135 places the chamber 133 into communication with anannular chamber 136 on the righthand side of a central line drawnthrough the engine. Chamber 136 communicates by way of a duct 137 with apassage 138, which passage 138 in turn communicates with the right-handpiston-chamber 139, said chamber 139 being in communication with apassage 140, the inner end of said passage 140 opening into theexhaust-passage 131 of the shaft or axis 129. The two piston-chambers 17and 139 are separated by means of an annular partition 140'. Thesteam-gates for the left-hand piston-chamber 17 are indicated by thenumerals 141 141 and the steam-gates for the right-hand piston-chamberby the numerals 142 142'. These gates are carried on rock-shafts 117,the same as the rock-shafts designated by a like numeral in Fig. 8. Oneof these rock-shafts carries the gates'14l and 142 and the otherrock-shaft the gates 141 and 142'. The gates are actuated in the samemanner as the gates shown in Fig. 8, so as to be swung outwardly insuitable recesses therefor in the casing. 1n the operation of this formof the invention the live steam passes into the passage 130, thence intopassage 132, thence through the valve 96, through the port 97 of saidvalve, and into the piston-chamber 17, where it acts upon thesteam-gates in exactly the same manner as explained in regard to theFig. 8 form of construction. The mechanism for turning the valve 96 alsooperates in exactly the same manner as described with reference to theFig. 8 form by the action of the cam 101 on the roller 100, so that whenthe steam is cut cit the engine is rotated by the expansive power of thesteam alone. When the steam has completed its work in the piston-chamber17, it passes through the port 134 into the chamber 133, thence by port135 into chamber 136, passing from said chamber, by way of the duct 137and passage 138, into the right-hand piston-chamber 139. WVhen the steamhas completed its work in this chamber, it passes, by way of the passage140, into exhaust-passage 131 for final exit. Some of the exhauststeamwhich passes into this exhaust passage 131 is free to flow through aport 143 and thence around the piston-easing and finally out throughaport 144 back into the exhaust-passage 131. If preferred, all theexhaust-steam which passes through passage 140 into passage 131 may befirst carried directly through the port 143 and thence around the casingand out of the port 144 into the exhaust-passage 131. In order toaccomplish this, all that will be necessary will be to place a partitionin the passage 131, at any point of said passage between the passage 140and the port 144. At the points where the casing 16 contacts with thestationary shaft or axis 129 are disposed rings 145 145, said ringsbeing advisably of U shape in cross-section. Packings are preferablyprovided on each side of the rings. The rings are also provided withports or openings registering with the ports 143 and 144, so as toafford free passage of the steam from exhaust-passage 131 and to saidexhaust-passage. The object'of these rings is to provide for thecirculation of the dead steam around the shaft and into the casing atall times,

While I have described the piston as stationary in this Fig. 11 form ofconstruction, as well as in the other forms of construction, yet I donot desire to limit myself to this, inasin uch as in all the severalforms the engine willsuccessfnlly work if this arrangement isreversed-that is to say, the piston made revoluble and the casingstationary.

In Figs. 13 and 14 I show a modified form of governor mechanism forregulating the ad mission of the inlet -steam, said governor mechanismto be used in lieu of the spring 49 and weight 52. (Shown in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings.) It will be understood that either the governormechanism represented in said Figs. 1 and 2 or the governor mechanismnow about to be described maybe employed in all the several forms ofconstruction herein illustrated and described or in any other form ofengine. In this form a short shaft or axle 146 projects laterally fromthe bracket 55, and on this shaft or axis is mounted a gearwheel 147,said gear-wheel beingin mesh and driven by a gear-wheel (not shown)carried by the rotatable part of the engine. The gear-wheel 147 hasrigid to or integral therewith a bevel-gear 148, said bevel-gear beingin mesh with another bevel-gear 149, said bevel-gear 149 carried looselyat the lower end of a tubular shaft or axis 150, extending upwardly fromthe horizontal member of the bracket 55. Extending upwardly from theupper side of the bevelgear 149 are arms 151, said arms supporting attheir upper ends a collar 152, which loosely surrounds the tubular axis150. Pivoted to the collar 152 are arms 153 153, which carry at theirlower ends the governor-balls 154 154. Pivotally connected to the arms153 are links 155 155, said links having their inner ends pivotallyconnected to a collar 156, which collar loosely surrounds the tubularaxis 150. Extending through the tubular axis 150 is a rod 157, said rodbeing formed intermediate of its ends with a threaded portion 158. Therod 157 extends through the lower end of the tubular axis 150 and alsothrough the horizontal member of the bracket 55, and its lower end is inline to engage with the upper beveled headed portion or enlargement 43of the valverod 47. The upper end of the rod 157 is preferably providedwith a hand-wheel for convenience in turning the same, and the lowerextremity of the rod is of conical form. Within the tubular axis 150 andadapted to engage the threaded portion 158 of the rod 157 is a nut 159,said nut being held against rotation by being provided with thelaterally-projecting fingers 160 160, said fingers passing throughopposite elongated slots 161 in the tubular axis 150 and extending into.the collar 156.

Depending from the horizon tal member of the bracket 55 is a toothed dog162, any of the series of teeth of said dog adapted to engage thebeveled enlargement or head 48 of the valve-rod 47. The dog has alsosecured thereto a roller 163, which roller bears against the rod 157. Inthe operation of this governor mechanism as the revolving part of theengine rotates and this rotation is' communicated to the gear-wheel 147by the intermeshing gear from the rotatable part of the engine thisrotation is conveyed to the bevel-gear 148 and also to the bevel-gear149. Bevel-gear 149 will cause the arms 151 and the collar 152 connectedthereto, as well as the governor-ball arms 153, governor-balls 154, andcollar 156,to be carried around therewith. As the speed of the engineincreases the governor-ball arms will fly outwardly by centrifu galforce. This has the effect of raising the collar 156, and as said collaris raised the nut 159is also raised,and conseque ntlythe rod 157. Assaid rod 157 is thus raised, as soon as the lower beveled or conical endthereof reaches the roller 163 the toothed dog 162 will be forcedlaterally out of engagement with the upper beveled head or enlargement48 of the valverod 47. through the passage 44 will act against the lowerend of the valve-rod 47 and cause an uplifting of the valve 45 in orderto shut off the How of steam through the passage 33 into thepiston-chamber, and thereby of course reducing the speed of the engine.Vhen the speed has become reduced to a normal, the.

governor-balls will move inwardly and the collar 156 be again forceddownwardly. This will have the effect of lowering the rod 157 andcausing its lower end to contact with the upper end ,of the valverod 47,and consequently lower said valve-rod and the valve carried thereby, soas to again open the passage 33, as shown in Fig. 13. In the lowering ofthe rod 157 in the manner described, as soon as the lower beveled orconical end of said rod passes off the roller 163 the toothed dog isfree to swing laterally, so that one of its teeth may again engage theupper beveled enlargement or head of the valve-rod 47, thereby retainingthe valve in its open position. The position of the rod 157 is adjustedby turning said rod through the nut 159.

While in the preceding description steam has been described as theactuating medium, yet I do not wish to be understood as confining myselfthereto, inasmuch as the construction is such that any other suitableactuating mediumsuch as air, gas, or the like-may be employed withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, of a valve arrangedin an inlet-passage, said valve provided with a projecting valve rod,means engaging the valve-rod in order to hold the valve at an openposition under a certain speed of rotation,

governor mechanism adapted, when the speed The steam, therefore, whichenters.

when the speed of the engine is reduced, and

means for throwing the engaging mechanism into engagement with thevalve-rod, when the valve is again moved toward or to an open posit-ion.

2. The combination, of a valve arranged in an inlet-passage, said valveprovided with a projecting valve-rod, a dog adapted to engage thevalve-rod in order to hold the valve in an open position under a certainspeed of rotation, an arm, and governor mechanism connected to said armand adapted to move the arm on an increased speed of rotation, andthereby throw the dog out of engagement with the valve-rod to permitsaid valve-rod to move by pressure of the actuating agent and therebycarry the valve to or toward a closed position, and when the speed isreduced, said governor mechanism acting on the arm so as to force thevalve-rod and the valve carried thereby to an open position, and topermit the dog to again engage the valve-rod to hold the valve to itsopen position.

3. The combination, of a valve arranged in an inlet-passage, said valveprovided with a projecting valve-rod, a dog adapted to engage thevalve-rod in order to hold the valve in an open position under a certainspeed of rotation, an arm, a spring having one end connected to arotatable portion of the mechanism, and a weight connected to the freeend of the spring, and from which weight the arm depends, said weightadapted on an increased speed of rotation to fly outwardly and therebythrow the dog out of engagement with the valve-rod, to permit saidvalve-rod to move by pressure of the actuating agent and thereby carrythe valve to or toward a closed po-' sition, and when the speed isreduced, said Weightand the arm extendingtherefrom moving in an oppositedirection so as to force the valve-rod and the valve carried thereby toan open position, and to permit the dog to again engage the valve-rodand hold the valve to its open position.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingforming an interior piston-chamber, a piston within said chamber, one ofthe latter parts being rotatable speed of rotation of the engine,governor mechanism adapted, when the speed exceeds a certain limit, toact 011 the engaging mechanism so as to release the same and permit thevalve-rod to move by the pressure of the actuating agent and therebycarry the valve to or toward a closed position, and to act on saidvalve-rod to reopen the valve when the speed of the engine is reduced,means for throwing the engaging mechanism into engagement with thevalve-rod when the valve is again moved toward or to an open position,and movable gates adapted to bear against the edge of the piston.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingforming an interior piston-chamber, a piston within said chamber, one ofthe latter parts being rotatable, and said piston provided with aprojecting cam bearing against the wall of the pistonchamber, and saidpiston also provided with passages in communication with thepistonchamber and in communication with other passages, one of saidlatter passages being adapted to act as an inlet-passage, and the otherof said latter passages as an exhaustpassage, a valve for controllingthe inlet passage, said valve provided with a projecting valve-rod, adog adapted to engage the valverod in order to hold the valve in an openposit-ion under a certain speed of rotation of the engine, an arm,governor mechanism connected to said arm, and adapted to move the arm onan increased speed of rotation of the engine and thereby throw the dogout of engagement with the valve-rod to permit said valve-rod to move bypressure of the actuating agent and thereby carry the Valve to or towarda closed position, and when the speed of the engine is reduced, saidgovernor mechanism acting on the arm so as to force the valve-rod andthe valve carried thereby to an open position, and to permit the dog toagain engage the valve-rod to hold the valve to its open position, andmovable gates adapted to bear against the edge of the piston.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a casing forming an interiorpiston-chamber, a piston within the chamber, said piston provided with aprojecting cam bearing against the Wall of the piston-chamber, means forintroducing an actuating agent into the pistonchamber and for exhaustingthe same therefrom, movable gates adapted to bear against the piston,each of said gates having a slight in-and-out movement independent ofitsmain movement, and each of said gates'having one side edge beveled, abeveled strip slidingly fitting the beveled side edge of the gate, and aspring or springs bearing against the outer edge of the gate and of thestrip.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingforming an interior piston-chamber, a piston within said chamber, one ofthe latter parts being rotatable and said piston provided withprojecting cams the edge of one of said cams being free from contactwith the wall of the piston -chamber,- means forintroducing an actuatingagentinto the piston-chamber and for exhausting the same therefrom, andtwo sets of movable gates adapted to bear against the piston.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingforming an interior piston-chamber, a piston within said chamber, one ofthe latter parts being rotatable, and said piston provided with aprojecting cam bearing against the wall of the piston-chamber, and saidpiston also provided with passages in communication with thepiston-chamber and in communication with other passages, one of saidlatter passages being adapted to act as an inlet-passage, and the otherof said latter passages as an exhaust-passage, a cam, an arm adapted toride on said cam, a valve for controlling the passage of the pistonwhich is in communication with the inlet-passage, a connection betweenthe arm and said valve, whereby said arm at certain periods of itsmovement on the cam is adapted to hold the valve open, and at certainother periods to turn the valve to a closed position so as to shut oifflow of the actuating agent into the piston-chamber, and movable gatesadapted to bear against the piston.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingforming an interior piston-chamber, a piston within said chamber, one ofthe latter parts being rotatable, and said piston provided with aprojecting cam bearing against the wall of the piston-chamber, and saidpiston also provided with passages in communication with thepiston-chamher and in communication with other passages, one of saidlatter passages being adapted to act as an inlet-passage, and the otherof said latter passages as an exhaust-passage, a cam, a rock-shaft, anarm mounted fast on said shaft and bearing on the cam, a collar mountedfast on the shaft and provided with projecting shoulders, an arm mountedloosely on the shaft and provided with projections adapted to be engagedby the shoulders of the collar, a valve for controlling the passage ofthe piston which is in communication with the inlet-passage, aconnection between the arm which is loosely mounted on the rockshaft andthis valve, and movable gates adapted to bear against the piston.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingforming an interior piston-chamber, a piston Within said chamber, one ofthe latter parts being rotatable, and said piston providedwith aprojecting cam bearing against the wall of the pistonchamber, and saidpiston also provided with passages in communication with thepistonchamber and in communication with other passages, one of saidlatter passages being adapted to act as an inlet-passage, and the otherof said latter passages as an exhaustpassage, a cam, a rock-shaft, anarm mounted fast on said shaft and bearing on the cam,

' a collar mounted fast on the shaft and provided with projectingshoulders, an arm mounted loose on the shaft and provided with aprojecting lug, which lug is adapted to be acted upon by one of theshoulders of the collar, a valve for controlling the passage of thepiston which is in communication with the inlet-passage, a connectionbetween the arm which is loosely mounted on the rock-shaft and thisvalve, a lever pivotally connected to the loose arm, one end of thelever adapted to be acted upon by the other shoulder of the collar, alongitudinal rod, a crank at the end of said rod, a link connecting thecrank with the pivoted lever, means for actuating the rod, and movablegates adapted to bear against the piston.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingforming two interior piston-chambers, one of the latter parts beingrotatable, and said piston provided with a projecting cam for bothpiston-chambers, and bearing against the walls of said chambers, andsaid piston also provided with a passage in communication with thepiston-chamber on one side of the casing, and also in communication withanother passage, the latter passage being adapted to act as aninlet-passage, the piston on this side of the casing havinga chamberinto which the actuating agent is free to pass after performingits workon said side of the casing, the chamber referred to being incommunication with a chamber on the opposite side of the casing, andsaid latter chamber being in communication with the piston-chamber onthis latter side of the easing, the last-referred-to piston-chamberbeing in communication with an exhaust-passage, and movable gates forthe respective piston-chambers, and adapted to bear against the piston.

12. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingforming an interior piston-chamber, a piston within said chamber, one ofthe latter parts being rotatable, and said piston provided with aprojecting cam bearing against the Wall-of the pistonchamber, and alsoprovided with passagesin communication with the piston-chamber and incommunication with other passages, one of the latter passages beingadapted to act as an inlet-passage, and the other of said latterpassages as an exhaust-passage, a passage around the casing and separatefrom the piston-chamber, said passage being in communication with theexhaust from the piston-chamber and also in communication with the mainexhaustpassage, and movable gates adapted to bear against the piston.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination, of a shaft or axis, a casingsurrounding the same and forming an interior piston-chamber, a pistonwithin said chamber, one of the latter parts being rotatable, and saidpiston provided with a projecting'cam bearing against the wall of thepiston-chamber, means for in troducing an actuating agent into and forexhausting the same from the piston-chamber,rings U shaped incross-section surrounding the shaft or axis between said shaft or axisand the casing, the open sides of said rings being in communication withthe exhaust-passage, and movable gates adapted to bear against thepiston.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN P. DORAN.

Witnesses:

A. L. MORSELL, ANNA V. FAUST.

